BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
EZULWINI– Corporates in Eswatini have demonstrated their belief in choral music with a remarkable sponsorship totalling E445 000 for this year’s Standard Bank Choral Music Competition.
The launch event, held this morning (April 3, 2025) at the Happy Valley Hotel, showcased the commitment of various sponsors to support this cultural initiative.
This year, Standard Bank contributed E345 000 to the competition, reflecting an increase of E15,000 from the previous year. The competition is scheduled to take place on May 25, 2025, at Esibayeni Lodge.
List of Sponsors
– Standard Bank: E345 000
– STANLIB: E25 000
– Liberty: E25 000
– Imisebe Publishers: E50 000
During the launch, Sihle Gumbi, President of the Eswatini National Choral Music Association, announced the date and venue for this year’s competition. He highlighted the success of the event and the longstanding partnership with Standard Bank, which has been on-going since 1992.
Imisebe Publishers, a locally owned publishing house, is participating as a first-time sponsor, contributing E50 000 specifically for the SiSwati Choice Piece category. In an exclusive interview, Managing Director Hlobisile Stromvig expressed pride in being part of this year’s competition.
Mathokoza Sibiya, who spoke on behalf of the Eswatini National Arts and Culture (ENCAC), provided attendees with a brief background on the venues that the choral competition has been hosted at over the years. He noted that previous venues, such as Mfanyana Hall and the Convention Centre, proved to be too small over time, hence the move to Esibayeni Lodge, which aligns with the bank’s image of high standards.
Khonelinkhosi Dlamini, a choir representative, was the second speaker at the launch. He shared pride in seeing how choral music has made its presence felt throughout the SADC region.
Other speakers included Phathizwe Dlamini, Head of Personalisation, who spoke on behalf of Chief Executive Mvuselelo Fakudze and presented the sponsorship. In his speech, the Chief Executive emphasized the importance of the competition as a celebration of Eswatini’s cultural heritage, stating, “The Eswatini Choral Music Competition is more than an event—it is a movement that unites voices, preserves our identity, and nurtures excellence.”
He recalled the electrifying performances from the previous year, which created an atmosphere of harmony, passion, and national pride. He expressed gratitude towards the new partners—Imisebe Publishing, STANLIB Eswatini, and Liberty Life Eswatini—whose commitment strengthens the vision upheld for over two decades. Dlamini announced on behalf of the Chief Executive the increased sponsorship of E345 000 for 2025, underscoring the transformative power of choral music. He praised the choirs for representing Eswatini with distinction, both regionally and internationally.
This year, the competition aims to enhance local artistry by ensuring greater inclusion of Eswatini’s adjudicators and composers. The Chief Executive also announced an ongoing partnership with Unayo as the exclusive ticketing platform for the competition, promoting digital financial inclusion across the country.
This year also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Eswatini National Choral Music Association and the Mbabane Orchestra, led by Dr. Kim it was overseen by the President of the Choral Association.
The 2025 Choral Music Competition is anticipated to be a vibrant celebration of artistry, resilience, and shared identity, echoing through time as a testament to the unity and cultural richness of Eswatini.
